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PhD Program in ME

The PhD in Mechanical Engineering (PME) requires candidates to conduct research with original outcomes and produce a dissertation with creative scholarship. Candidates must complete 18 hours of dissertation research. Candidates must also complete 36 hours of approved coursework directly from a Bachelor of Science degree or at least 18 hours of approved coursework from a Master of Science degree. The programalso requires passing a qualifying examination, a general examination (dissertation proposal), and a final examination (dissertation defense). 

In addition to the regular PhD degree, the program also offers a PhD Minor in Mechanical Engineering.

Program Guidelines

The information below summarized degree requirements. For a detailed description refer to the ME Graduate Student Handbook, as well as LSU Graduate School regulations. 

Direct Admission to PhD from BS Degree

If you are deemed eligible by the GSC to enter the PhD program directly from a BS degree, you will be required to take a minimum of 36 hours of course work and 18 hours of dissertation research (ME 9000). The entire course work must be approved by the major professor and advisory committee, as evidenced by the attestation of the departmental plan of study form. The form is recommended to be submitted to the department by the end of the first semester for MS degree holders and before the end of the first year for the BS graduate. Requirements for the Doctoral PhD in Mechanical Engineering include:

• Declaring a primary specialization in one of the following areas: Thermal Sciences, Mechanical Systems, or Materials Science and Engineering
• Take a minimum of 12 credit hours of core courses in thermal sciences, mechanical systems, or materials science and engineering.
• Take 3 credit hours of a Math course
• Take 21 credit hours of technical electives that are selected and approved by the student, major professor, and advisory committee
• Register for ME 7901 (ME Graduate Seminar): required to register and attend every semester excluding summers
• Take a minimum of eighteen (18) hours of ME 9000
• You are required to present your research results at a departmental forum before graduation, usually during your final semester in residence. This done in the departmental, annual Graduate Student Conference (GSC), prior to graduation.

Admission to PhD with Earned MS Degree

Students who have earned a recognizable MS degree with at least 24 hours of graduate-level courses, will be allowed to transfer up to 18 hours of course work credit upon approval by the major professor and student's advisory committee, which will count towards the requirement of a minimum of 36 hours of course work. Those who hold a MS and express interest in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program will be expected to meet the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum core requirement of 12 credit hours of thermal sciences, mechanical systems, or materials science and engineering.
• Among the 12 credit hours of core coursework, a minimum of 9 credit hours should be taken from the 7000 level courses.
• Register for 6 credit hours of technical electives related to the student's research area, which must be approved by the advisory committee
• Complete 18 hours of dissertation research (ME 9000) for the PhD Degree

PhD Qualifying/Comprehensive Examinations

Qualifying examinations are administered by the department through the Mechanical Engineering Coordinators for Materials, Mechanical Systems, Thermal Fluids, and Math. Passing a minimum of three areas including Mathematics is required to qualify. The areas for examination will be selected in conjunction with your major professor. At least one of the exams will be required in your major field. If you change your major professor after you have successfully completed the qualifying examinations, you may be required to retake some or all of the examinations at the discretion of the new major professor.

If you fail any given qualifying exam, you will be given one more opportunity to pass the subject when the exam is offered again. Two consecutive failures will lead to your termination from the ME Ph.D. program. You will, however, be able to continue if you receive a conditional pass provided you fulfill the stipulated conditions mention below:

• You will not be able to select another subject without the permission from your advisory committee and ME graduate studies committee. If the advisory committee approves the substitution, it will be considered equivalent to the second attempt on that subject and failure in that subject will lead to your termination from the ME Ph.D. program.
• Upon the exam results being made available to students, students have one week (i.e., seven calendar days) to submit a written request for their examination to be regraded. The written request should include appropriate reasons for regrading. Email these written request to [email protected]

Petitions

A petition to waive or modify any of the requirements in this section requires approval of your graduate advisory committee and the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) of the ME program. 

PhD Minor in Mechanical Engineering

Minor: If a student chooses, he/she can complete a minor in an area either within the ME department or outside in another appropriate department, relevant to the program.  Students with a major in mechanical systems or thermal fluids may choose materials science and engineering within ME as their minor emphasis area, and vice versa. Alternatively, the minor area could be centered on a program offered in another department at LSU.

For an internal minor, 9 credit hours of graduate level course work in the area is required, of which a minimum of three (3) credit hours must be in 7XXX level courses.  The selection of courses relevant to the minor emphasis program is left to the student and the minor professor.  An overall average of 3.00 or better is required in the courses of the minor area.